And it's certainly never quiet. Boro have only kept one clean sheet in their last 22 visits to the City Ground, a stadium where they've managed just the one win since 1999.

As ever, there was drama - with Britt Assombalonga's return adding further spice to an already-fiesty fixture, and Boro will head back to the North-east scratching their heads as to how they've left empty-handed.

Forest edged the first half, Boro dominated the second - and it was Ben Gibson who featured at either end during a breathless final 11 minutes as he conceded a penalty, before going up the other end and giving the visitors a lifeline.

Then came the disallowed goal, Ashley Fletcher diverting Assombalonga's effort into the net - but the linesman's flag spoiled another trip to Nottingham, and inflicted a second away defeat of the season on Garry Monk's men.

Boro weren't at their best, but had enough chances to win several matches.

Here's how the game panned out:

A first-half lesson in taking chances

It seemed inevitable that a summer signing was to seize the headlines at the City Ground, and many felt Assombalonga - who swapped Forest for Boro in a £15m deal - was the one who'd come back to haunt his former side.

The 24-year-old, who opened his Riverside account with an uncompromising brace against Burton Albion four days earlier, was given a raw reception from the off, the supporters who once cheered him instead loudly booing him with his every touch.

That came as no surprise, given Assombalonga and boyhood Forest fan Patrick Bamford were loudly jeered every time they missed the target during the pre-match warm-up, and that ill-feeling only intensified when the action got underway.

Indeed, after just 23 minutes, referee Graham Scott had to call Assombalonga and captain Ben Gibson over for a quiet word, with the Boro striker showing signs of frustration following persistent needling by the home fans and the Forest defenders.

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The chances came and went at either end, but it was the hosts - reverting back to four in defence for the visit of Garry Monk's side following a brief flirtation with 'three at the back' - who appeared more comfortable in their own shell.

The midfield battle, particularly in the first half, fell in Forest's favour - and the opener came after just 16 minutes as two of the home side's post-Assombalonga cavalry combined.

Summer signing Dowell found space and split the Boro back-line with an inch-perfect pass and fellow new recruit Barrie McKay did the rest, holding his nerve to fire under Randolph.

But an unchanged Boro rallied, and should have gone into the break level as Assombalonga got the chance he'd been dreaming about - played through on goal after springing the offside trap.

However, Boro's best chance in the first half wasn't converted - the club's record signing firing wide on the angle, on the ground where his brace saved Forest from relegation just three months earlier.

And in a late onslaught before the break, Patrick Bamford saw his smart effort from 20 yards palmed around the post by keeper Jordan Smith, while Jonny Howson also tried his luck - but shot wide.

Further frustration for Assombalonga

In search of a response, Monk shuffled the pack at half-time with Adama Traore replacing Forshaw - and it took only a matter of minutes before Boro were knocking at the Forest door.

Knocking, or barging it down. But the Forest goal lived a charmed life - as Assombalonga missed two glorious second-half opportunities to draw his new employers level.

The first highlighted the effectiveness of Gestede in this division, a simple headed flick-on from the towering attacker towards Assombalonga, but the striker's fierce low effort was saved by the legs of Forest stopper Smith.

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And moments later came a gilt-edged chance, Assombalonga ghosting into the area with just the keeper to beat - but snatched at it, and the ball ballooned wide of the target.

As his frustrations grew, the howls of derision from the home fans grew louder - but not for too long as Boro continued to dominate the possession and territory throughout the second half.

On came Lewis Baker, in the place of Bamford as Monk shifted to a 4-4-2, and Traore got the better of his Forest namesake, Armand, time and time again on the flank.

Few could disagree that Adama turned the game in Boro's favour, as Mark Warburton's side started to rock, and Monk knew it.

Off came anchorman Adam Clayton, and on came another attacker in the shape of Ashley Fletcher. All out attack.

Gibson takes centre stage - at either end

Boro were just preparing the kitchen sink when referee Scott became the villain, awarding Forest a penalty with just 11 minutes remaining.

It looked fairly innocuous at the back post as Gibson tangled with Ben Brereton, and the official adjudged the Boro captain to have unfairly pushed the Forest man in the back - and pointed to the spot.

Daryl Murphy dispatched into the bottom corner to give Forest some breathing space, but the home fans had barely stopped celebrating as Boro hit back.

Ben Gibson in action (Image: Griffiths Photographers)

"We've got our Forest back", sang the majority of the 26,265 fans inside the City Ground, but in a flash it was Boro who showed their inner steel.

And it was that man Gibson, making amends at the other end as he pounced quickly following a post-corner scramble to slam home. The away supporters erupted, the home fans slumped deep into their seat ahead of five minutes of injury time.

Then came the Boro euphoria - but just for a few seconds. Assombalonga headed towards goal at the back post and substitute Fletcher flicked it into the net - only to be thwarted by the linesman's flag.

The full-time whistle sparked an eruption of noise, with Boro skipper Gibson shaking his head as he left the pitch - clearly incensed by the penalty award.

A penalty, a disallowed goal & missed chances - but Boro headed home pointless for a second successive away day.